The unnamed narrator of the poem watches the spectacle of the Harlem club with a critical eye. Literary context and historical publication details suggest the speaker might be a waiter working in the venue, experiencing an isolation similar to the performers. The narrator projects angelic qualities onto the dancer, looking past her physical form to recognize her emotional distance. This perspective creates a firm boundary between the narrator and the intoxicated patrons.

A young Black woman employed to entertain patrons in a 1917 Harlem nightclub. She wears a loose gauze costume and possesses a singing voice that the narrator compares to the sound of woodwind instruments on a picnic day. Although the club patrons behave aggressively and throw money at her feet, she maintains a steady, calm demeanor. She survives the exploitation of her workplace by mentally separating her true identity from her physical routine.

The patrons of the Harlem nightclub consist of young men, women, and sex workers who consume the live entertainment. They are intoxicated and flush with wine, exhibiting rowdy behavior as they watch the stage. They toss coins in praise and demand constant entertainment. The group operates entirely without empathy, viewing the performer merely as a physical object for their amusement.